Technical question

[contrapunctus]

After watching performances of pianists such as Hamelin and Yundi Li, I have noticed that they, and some others, hold the fingers that are not immediatly being used, in a funny way. They pull the fingers up into a claw-like position that looks extremely cramped, it does not look like the hand is relaxed at all. Can some one explain the benefits of this behavior to me? I have noticed that I certainly don't do it when I play.

Thank you.

[steveie986]

Also Vladimir Horowitz: "The little finger of his right hand was always curled tight until it needed to play a note; as music critic Harold Schonberg put it, "it was like a strike of a cobra" (The Great Pianists, p. 436)."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Horowitz#Repertoire_and_technique

[saturation]

Fingers have a natural position when not it use and completely relaxed, it normally is somewhat clawed. 

In classical piano, its important to relax as many muscles not being used as possible, in order to play accurately for a very long duration.

[mike_lang]

Remember there plenty of pianists that have seemingly eccentric techniques.  Some things work for some and not others.  For example, Horowitz's flat fingers.  Or Richter's high shoulders and tense arms.  Everyone's body is constructed differently, and for some, certain techniques work better, while they might hinder others.

[bearzinthehood]

We should always be skeptical of intuitive motions.  Think carefuly about everything you train your hands to do.  From what I've seen of Hamelin, he has what is usually considered to be correct technique.

[mike_lang]

We should always be skeptical of intuitive motions.  Think carefuly about everything you train your hands to do.  From what I've seen of Hamelin, he has what is usually considered to be correct technique.

It is true that you need to consider your technique, but intuitive motions can be right.  The best technique is the most natural technique, which as I've said, varies from person to person - while there are things that work for a large percentage of people, there is not really a "correct" technique, so to speak.

[lostinidlewonder]

I guess it is like holding up a load so that they can drop it. THE CLAW might give the finger potential energy, like holding up a ball and then dropping it, so that the stored energy is tranfered to the keyboard with extension of the finger and gravity, so they don't actually feel like they have to use any effort to play the finger. ... I guess.. I mean I've caught myself doing it with Bach sometimes without even realising it, and this is the only reason I can think of because I always like to remain relaxed when playing.